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Sunday, August 30, 2015

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog.

It was a great weekend for us. On Friday evening we went to the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game. We took our youngest grandson along with us. It was a perfect evening for baseball.

Saturday evening we had a special speaker come to our church. The crowd was a little smaller but that didn't diminish the enthusiasm of the speaker. The speaker was Bill Yount, and he brought such a message of encouragement. We were glad we went to hear him speak.

Today, after church I spent some time cooking. We are getting such an abundance of tomatoes right now so I decided to use some of them. I made a cream of fresh tomato soup. Found a great recipe from the Barefoot Contessa on Food Network and it was fabulous. Here is a link to the recipe.

Now onto my card for today. This is another I made for the DTGD challenges on Splitcoaststampers. Sandee was the hostess and she wanted us to make a card using the letters;

D = die cuts

I = ink

R = round (circles), rectangle (striped panel)

T = trim (sequins)

Y = yellow

This was an easy card to make for this challenge, I used a Stampin'-Up paper pumpkin kit from August 2014 to complete my card.

Love all the kits I have received so far. You get detailed instructions to complete each card. This card was an alternate project using the card supplies. See original here.

Well, my friends, it's time to dime the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time......God bless.

Friday, August 28, 2015

Hello Blogger Friends! thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with the Charmed Life Blog.

Harvest time at the Marsh household is in full bloom. Our tomato plants are really thriving and producing in abundance. I found a recipe from the Barefoot Contessa for cream of fresh tomato soup - link to recipe here. It sounds really delicious and a good way to use fresh tomatoes. I plan on making it today or tomorrow.

My daughter-in-law also has a slew of tomatoes so I offered to help her can them. She was anxious about doing that. I have the jars and a canning pot. I did this last year with my tomatoes for the first time and it was successful.

You follow the directions exactly and it's successful. I read the instructions from Ball (canning jar maker) and used a recipe from the Food Network. I enjoyed the tomatoes all winter. It was a delicious base for marinara sauce.

Now onto my card for today. This is one that I made for the DTGD challenges on Splitcoaststampers. It was selected as a fave by the hostess of the challenge and pinned to the SCS Pinterest board. See board here.

For my card, I created my background by using used Stampin'-Up reinkers in melon mambo (bright pink) and coastal cabana (blue-green) with an aqua brush. I spread the ink around on watercolor cardstock. I let it dry and this is the pretty background that I got.

I kept it simple by adding some DMC floss and my butterfly die cut. The butterfly is a die from Stampin'-Up. My friends word is a die from Elizabeth Crafts.

That's my card for today. Time to close this post. I have lots to do today and tonight we have tickets for the baseball game. We are taking our grandson and then he comes here for a sleepover. It will be a great night weather wise for a baseball game.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit with the Charmed Life Blog. Another beautiful summer day here in Pittsburgh.

I am having a problem with one of my molars and woke up this morning with some horrible pain. I took and Advil and laid back down to wait for the ibuprofen to take affect. Well, I fell back to sleep and when I woke again it was too late for me to get ready for church. What a disappointment. I don't like missing church because it sets my week up.

The tooth is another issue. I will be calling the dentist tomorrow morning. Not sure what the problem is. I was there for a cleaning about 2 weeks ago and the tooth has been bothering me since. But the pain this morning was a bit intense.

Oh well, enough of that. Let's move onto my card for today. This one I made for The Splitcoaststampers color challenge #544. Vicki was the hostess and she chose a subtle color palette with wisteria wonder, so saffron and calypso coral.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Hello Blogger Friends! thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. It's such a beautiful Saturday here in Pittsburgh. Sunny, warm and no humidity. The air conditioner is off and the windows are open.

Tonight we are celebrating my daughter-in-laws birthday. It will be held at their home and she wanted to do something different. They are having an 80's dance party. It will be in the back yard on the patio. It's big and will be able to hold the dancers. There are about 30 people coming.

We will bring our fire pit for those of us who might not be dancing. I am looking forward to a fun evening in her honor. It will be an evening of appetizers. I decided to make fresh figs with goat cheese and wrapped in prosciutto. You bake them for about 10 minutes. I have not made this recipe before but I have done figs, goat cheese and honey. Here is a link to the recipe iwill be using.

Now onto my card for today. This is another that I created for the DTGD challenges on Splitcoaststampers. There were prizes awarded and this card won. Whoo-hoo- it is a 1 year extension on my fan club membership. It was also featured on the DTGD Board on Pinterest. In fact 7 of the cards I made were featured as hostess faves on that board.

For my card I used an element from the March Paper Pumpkin Kit from Stampin'-Up. It had the "You" word outline and yellow thread to actually stitch the word.

I really like these kits that come in my mailbox every month. I think there is a special right now for new members. Half off your first 2 months.

Stamped my hello word, added an arrow and hand drew some lines on the main panel. A first for me but I think it emphasizes this white panel a bit. This technique (hand drawn lines) was another DTGD challenge.

For my background, I used the Stampin'-Up "Boho Chic" embossing folder. This is a new folder and I really like the look it gives a card.

Cut my daisy from the Stampin'-Up daisy die #2 and my card is completed. And, that my friends also wraps up this post. So until next time........God bless.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit with the Charmed Life Blog. This month is just whizzing by and soon our church based pre-school will start up again for another year.

This is the 3rd year of the school's existence and all of our classes are full with a waiting list. We added a 3rd class for the pre-k age -4/12 -5 year olds. I am still working with the youngest kids 2 1/2 -3 1/2 year olds. That age is a bit tough in September but by May they are a completely different group.

On another note, our vegetable garden is producing a nice crop of veggies for us especially the zucchini. I may make some zucchini bread today. We like it and I can make a few extra loves to share. Tomatoes are in abundance especially the grape tomatoes and oh so sweet.

Now onto my card for today. This is another that I made for the DTGD challenges on Splitcoaststampers. They have wrapped up for the year and prizes are being awarded. There is also a board on Pinterestwhere the hostesses are showcasing their favorites. This card is on that board. So excited!!

I started my card by choosing the layout which is from SC552. Cathy was the hostess for this challenge.

To make my baby card, I used the lullaby designer paper from Stampin'-Up. My rubber ducky and booties are from the Stampin'-Up "something for baby" set. There are also matching dies to cut the images.

Used an alphabet embossing folder for the coastal cabana panel. Sentiment is from the Stampin'-Up curvy verses set. Did some paper piercing with a piercing pack from Stampin'-Up.

Well friends that's my card for today. Time to get busy with my zucchini bread. So until next time.......God bless.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Hello Blogger friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit the Charmed Life Blog. It was such a beautiful summer day here in Pittsburgh. Really hot and humid but that's our summer weather and I love it.

We started the day off with church. Our service was great as usual. The worship team did a wonderful job. We had a couple that just returned from doing volunteer work in Israel and they were given opportunity to share their story. I really liked listening to what they had seen and done in the land of the bible.

This evening I watched the final episode of the Food Network Star. The one I picked of the 3 finalists won- Eddie Jackson. I thought he had a lot of camera charisma. It was a fun watch for 10 weeks. His show will be airing in early October. I will have to be on the lookout for it.

Now onto my card for today. This is another I made for the DTGD challenges on Splitcoaststampers.

For my card I used the Stampin'-Up set "stippled blossoms". This is a 2 step stamp set and I really like the look of the flowers when stamped. My Misti tool was a real help in lining up the stamps.

I fussy cut one of the flowers and popped it up for a bit of dimension. Flowers are stamped in daffodil delight and crushed curry inks. Used pistachio pudding and mossy meadow for the leaves.

A top flag and a pierced strip were added to complete this card. Well, time to dim the lights in Charmed Life Land for another day. So until next time.......God bless.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. I wanted to post yesterday but after going to the gym I spent the time in my kitchen.

We had a bunch of garden tomatoes so I decided to roast them and then turn that into a vodka sauce. I followed 3 different Food Network recipes to get my Penne pasta with vodka sauce on the plate.

Here is the recipe to roast the tomatoes which was made into a marinara sauce-recipe here-and finally to my vodka sauce-recipe here. We don't drink vodka so I bought an inexpensive sample bottle at the store. I only used a teaspoonful so I have more than enough left to make this recipe again at least 4x.

Along with the pasta I also made some roasted garlic rosemary meatballs - recipe here. These I baked and was able to use the rosemary that is growing on my deck. the only thing I would do different next time is to use a ground beef that has more fat content. I used ground sirloin.

You roast a whole head of garlic and add that to your meat mixture. I am a big fan of garlic and rosemary so these meatballs were right up my alley. My hubby loved the different flavors. We had an enjoyable dinner on the deck.

Now onto my card for today. This is another one that I created for the SCS CC543 challenge. Maura was hostess and she chose basic gray, lucky limeade and bermuda bay for the color trio.

I stenciled my background with the textured honeycomb stencil from Memory Box in all 3-challenge colors. The left panel is embossed with the Stampin'-Up honeycomb embossing folder.

Used the Stampin'-Up set- "six sided sampler and coordinating punch" to continue the honeycomb theme. My happy birthday sentiment is another Stampin'-Up set "party this way". I cut a flag in lucky limeade and stamped the sentiment in basic gray. I saw this layout on Pinterest using this stamp set. I used her layout but amped up the card to my own style.

Well, my friends that's it for me for today. Time to get my to-do list accomplished. So until next time........God bless.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Hello Blogger Friends! Happy Tuesday to you all and thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

Well, the card making frenzy is over at Splitcoaststampers. I wasn't able to get a card made for all 40 challenges but I did manage 23 of them.

We were able to combine challenges and in the end that's what I started to do. I had grand plans when the challenges started but life has priorities you know - even with card makers (lol)!!!

This card I am showing today hit a couple of those challenges plus a few more. I was pleased with how this one turned out. Over on the MFT Blog they are having a summer school and the lesson was on design repetition.

I knew that I wanted to do a stenciled background for my card and also for one of DTGD challenges so this lesson and homework was perfect for me. I used a dots stencil from Stampin'-Up and the colors from the SCS color challenge.

Maura is our hostess this week and she chose basic gray, bermuda bay and lucky limeade as her color palette.

bermuda bay, basic gray, lucky limeade

I secured my stencil onto my white cardstock and using sponge daubers started sponging my ink. I really like how the background turned out so I guess my homework assignment was a success (lol)!

Used the MojoMonday layout on this card but I took a little creative license with it. Instead of 2 circles I used one and substituted the coffee cup as the 2nd circle. Used the MFT flag stax to cut a flag and the celebratory greetings die for my cheers word.

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Well, Blogger friends that's my card for today. So until next time.........God bless.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog on a Monday in August. Hope your weekend was spent doing the things you like to do.

As for me, my Saturday was spent with some of my stamping friends. I try to have a get together every other month at my home. We enjoy a light lunch together and then work on our crafting projects.

Not everyone could make it this time around. There were just 4 of us but, we enjoyed the day. And, I now have a Big Shot in my possession again. I had mentioned in a previous post that I broke mine. Well, one of my friends had her old one that she sold me for $20. Old- ha- let me tell you that it was in excellent shape and is like brand new.

I worked on cards for the DTGD challenges that are currently running on Splitcoaststampers. You have to be a member of the fan Club to play along. They have been fun and take you out of your stamping zone.

I will post all that I made in later posts. Didn't get to finish all the challenges like I wanted. Just ran out of time. Out of the 40 challenges posted so far, I have completed 19 and hope to get a few more in today.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for the color challenge #542 on Splitcoaststampers. I was the hostess and I chose a rich, fall color palette with elegant eggplant, delightful dijon, cajun craze and mossy meadow.

elegant eggplant, delightful dijon, cajun craze, mossy meadow

I stamped my own background paper with stamps from the Stampin'-Up sets autumn days, fantastic foliage, stippled blossoms and the Verve set abundant blessings.

Layered that panel on mossy meadow cardstock then onto delightful Dijon. On the middle panel, I used the Cuttlebug embossing folder "autumn type".

The grateful word is a die from PTI and I cut in elegant eggplant. My ribbon is cotton twill died with Cajun craze re-inkers.

To complete my card, I cut 2 maple leaves and sponged them with Cajun craze, mossy meadow and delightful Dijon inks. I pressed them onto a Versamark pad and then embossed with clear embossing powder. Irl they are very shiny.

I finished this card off with a bow made with mossy meadow thick bakers twine. Now I have my first Thanksgiving card of the year completed. And, that my friends is my card for today. Have to get back to my craft room and see what I can complete for today.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life. We are planning a kitchen update. No new cabinets because we think ours are fine. They are oak and still in very good shape.

Our plan is to get new countertops, back splash, floor and appliances. There is wallpaper in our kitchen that is coming down, and we will paint. We have our first contractor coming tomorrow to give us a bid.

We aren't sure about what material to get for the countertops. Didn't really want to spend the money for granite. Thinking maybe Corian but no decision there yet. We will be looking for recommendations from the contractor.

I am excited that by Thanksgiving I should have an updated kitchen- whoo hoo!!! I have been talking about doing this for 3 years now. So seeing a dream of mine come to fruition is exciting for me.

Now onto my card for today. This one I made for a couple of challenges on Splitcoaststampers. The color challenge #541 and Dini's "Dare To Get Dirty" challenge. This last challenge is a week of inspiring challenges to celebrate those of us who help support Splitcoaststampers through the Fan Club.

In previous years, this has typically been our vacation week so I wasn't able to participate. But, this year we went in July so I am enjoying what this elite Design Team is challenging us with.

Can't really give the specifics of the challenge because you have to be a Fan Club Member. But, there is till time to join and then you get to play along. Check it all out here.

To create the background on my card, I used glossy cardstock and sponged mint macaron, tip top taupe and rose red inks. I then misted the cardstock with iridescent gold glimmer mist. My card colors are from CC541.

rose red, mint macaron, tip top taupe

I cut a flourish with a Cheery Lynn Designs die in mint macaron and added a couple of Memory Box Chloe Stems cut in rose red. My "hello" word is cut with an MFT die. Finished off my card with a die cut butterfly and added a few rhinestones.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with The Charmed Life Blog. Hope your weekend was a great one whatever you did.

We are underway with August. Where did the first 2 months of summer go to??? It seemed like a blink of an eye and this new month showed up. I have another month off and then our pre-school starts in early September.

I will be working there 2 days a week for the first few months. Just until the kids get used to a pre-school routine and their teachers. then right after Christmas I drop back to 1 day a week.

My class meets 2 days a week, and we have another assistant who will work the other day. It's just enough for me to stay involved and keep my mind active and still allow me time for my card making and other activities. I had the chance to move up with the older kids but that would involve 3 days a week. I didn't want to feel like I was working again. After all, I spent 30 years in corporate America.

For my card today, I am showing one I made for the Splitcoaststampers Dare to Get Dirty challenges. If you are a member of the Fan Club you can play along in the challenge. If not, today is a good day to join and then you can join in on all the fun. And, there are fabulous prizes to be won. Click here for more info.

For my background, I sponged 3 shades of Stampin'-Up inks onto some distressed water color cardstock. Made a circle mask for my moon before the sponging. I started with the turquoise and sponged that all over the paper, then added some night of navy and final the blackberry bliss ink.

I then used the Stampin'-Up stars stencil mask and sprayed it with a perfect pearls mixture.

Memory Box has these celestial bodies dies so I decided to cut some stars and the planet. I found some textured metallic paper in my stash. The moon is sponged with white and gray ink then some acrylic paint. I used the textured side of the cardstock so it gives the moon "craters".

My sentiment is from the MFT set Mr. Roboto. I say this to my sweet 4yr old granddaughter. So guess who is getting this card (lol)!!

Well, that's it for me for today. Time to get busy on my color challenge card. I am the hostess this week and my card will be due tonight. So until next time........God bless.

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Hello Blogger Friends! Thanks for taking the time to visit the Charmed Life Blog. Summer is busy for all of us with family time, picnics, reunions, graduations and just enjoying the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.

So making my blog part of your day really means a lot to this blogger. Leaving your comments are so special to me and I read every one of them.

My hubby is working on this Saturday and our neighborhood is especially quiet. Lots of people away on vacation or just out enjoying the day.

I decided to write up a quick post and then go and make some cards. There is the DTGD challenges over on Splitcoaststampers. You have to be a fan club member to submit a card, but there are prizes to be won. And, the fan club is a great way to access more of the site.

I will have to get creative with my cards for these challenges. I use so many die cuts these days and I broke my Big Shot machine. So frustrated with myself on this one. I was helping my neighbor with some shower invites and I took a Sizzix die out to use but didn't take the bottom plastic case off.

When I started to run it through the machine it got stuck - of course it did! I backed it out and that's when I noticed the plastic. The machine worked with a little coaxing for a couple of weeks after that event and just the other day it broke completely.

I was in the middle of making a card when it stopped working. My die and paper got stuck and it took about 30 minutes to figure a way to get it out. I was so provoked at that point I put the card aside and haven't been back in my craft room since.

I briefly considered buying the new 9" Sizzix Big Shot and I still may at some point. A friend of mine offered me her old Big Shot for $20. She purchased the bigger model and has no use for her older one.

That was an offer too good to pass up but I have to wait until next Saturday to get it. I am hosting another stamping get together and she will bring it then. I still have the original Sizzix machine but I don't remember how to use it. So today I may pull it out and see how it works.

I have a card to make for the color challenge on Splitcoaststampers this coming week and I am the hostess. My card idea involves die cutting so I need help.

Anyway onto my card for today. For my card I used Liquitex acrylic gloss gel medium and Stampin-Up melon mambo reinker. I took my Stampin'-Up heart stencil and used this mixture to stencil hearts on my background. I like the way it turned out and it has a nice gloss to it. Which, of course doesn't show up in the photo.

My flowers and sentiment are from the PaperTreyInk set "cutting garden". I stamped in melon mambo & old olive inks and used the matching dies to cut them out. I added some ribbon and a bow to complete my card. In case your wondering, this card was made before the Big Shot bit the dust.

Well, it's time for me to close this post and see where if my mojo is till in gear. So until next time.......God bless.

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About Me

I am a Christian woman who is happily married to the love of her life.
After spending 30 years in the telecommunications industry I have recently retired.
I am now able to devote quality time to my family including my 3 wonderful grandsons and my beautiful new granddaughter.
I am also free to pursue my interest in rubber stamping and scrapbooking.